When it comes time for your mother, father, or other elderly relative to go through surgery or hospitalization, there are a million things going through your mind. You feel helpless. This has become something that goes beyond your capability, both medically and emotionally. Relax. There are plenty of individuals who specialize in this type of care. Whether they come back from an extended illness or have to have some significant surgery, there are options for short term rehabilitation. Skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation centers are flooded with medical professionals who take pride in caring for seniors who are ailing. If you or someone you know is feeling a little overwhelmed with adjusting to the fact that your relative needs medical help, here are a few first steps in choosing a rehab facility.

If your loved one is going to need short term rehab, you’ll probably have to help them choose where to go. The facility you choose, and the treatment they’ll receive there will significantly affect their recovery process. When you do your homework, you know you’ve made the right decision.

Consult

Take all the time you need having conversations with the discharge planner or social worker at the facility they are receiving treatment from. No one will help you more than the people working directly with your loved one. Odds are they will provide you with a few different options or suggestions on rehab facilities to go to. With this list, you can start making a decision based on a few different factors.

Ratings

Based on the information given to you from the transitional care planner, you can look into ratings and online reviews. Do a little research into the company’s standards. There is also a federal Medicare Nursing Home Compare available for brief comparison. You can tell a lot by the messaging and information listed on online websites, but take everything with a grain of salt. The online compare allows you to search all the facilities around a given zip code.

Location

You want somewhere that isn’t too far from potential visitors. Based on the severity of the case, clearly the facility and rehab treatment available is what’s most important. But don’t forget that you want family and friends to be able to visit your loved one during their treatment. Visitors from loved ones help emotionally, and can even speed up recovery time.

Schofield Care offers short term rehab for seniors in Western New York. Whether your loved one is recovering from a significant illness, or surgery, we have the facilities and professionals to help them recover fully, and most importantly, comfortably. If you have a loved one or know a senior who is facing the challenge of recuperating, please give us a call or stop into our facilities. We would love to help!

Just in time for Mother’s Day, Schofield Care is hosting “Momsgiving” Sat. May 6 with crafters, food trucks, door prizes every hour and a Spring Raffle extravaganza. The event begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m. at Schofield Care, 3333 Elmwood Ave. in the Town of Tonawanda. There’s plenty of free parking and three food trucks with delicious items available for purchase.

Chef’s, J&L Boulevard BBQ, and Taffy’s Shake trucks will be on site as well as the following vendors: Embrace the Difference®Jewelry, Dramatik Pozy, Gold Canyon Candles, Over the Buffalo Moon, Handmade Pillows, That Popcorn Shack, 716 Fashion Fix, BBop Originals, Love the Buff, Buffalo Barks Dog Care and more. Admission to the event is free.

During the event, guests can make a craft to take home for Mother’s Day and purchase tickets to win one or more spring raffle baskets. In addition, the NYS Erie Co Sheriff’s Dept. will offer their free Yellow Dot kit that alerts first responders that vital medical information is stored in the glove compartment of a car.

Bring your friends and family to this fun event. Proceeds from raffle items benefit the Activities Department of Schofield Residence and the Schofield Foundation, which supports Schofield Residence, Schofield Adult Day Health Care and Schofield’s Home Health services caring for more than 200 people in Erie and Niagara counties. Schofield was founded in 1910 and is one of the most experienced and respected providers of home health, rehabilitation and skilled nursing care in Western New York.

Accessing and selecting the best routes for care for your aging family member(s) isn’t an easy process. Paging through all the different services and facilities offers a myriad of options and terminology that may take some effort, and research to become familiar with. Specifically, deciphering between facilities that offer adult day care and facilities that offer adult day health care can be confusing. Since the titles of both care options are so similar, you may not be able to determine which option, if either, would be best for your unique situation. We’re here to help you learn what each means, the differences between the two and which is the option that benefits you and your loved one the most.

But What Do They Mean?

Generally speaking, there are three options when choosing adult care for seniors, and since there are no strict rules for specific options/services a given facility decides to provide, there is sometimes some gray area between them. When you’re examining different facilities, it’s integral to fully assess and know the types and options of care your loved one needs. The three basic types of senior day care include the following:

-Alzheimer’s and dementia care facilities

-Medical, therapy and socialization centers

-Socialization and safety centers

When a facility categorizes itself as providing adult day health care, it signifies that it offers at least some elements of the patient’s health care. It’s important to remember they aren’t simply supervision and/or recreation centers for senior citizens. Specifically, facilities that are designated as adult day health care, or ADHC, indicates a facility that is licensed by the state they operate in to provide participants with medical and health care.

Designation and Associated Offerings

A main difference to be aware of is that in a myriad of states, if/when a facility isn’t specifically certified for amenities such as social worker, psych evaluations and/or administration of medicine, it will be referred to as just an “adult day care”, without the “health” in the title. Furthermore, centers that aren’t licensed by the state they operate in have a greater chance of not being eligible for reimbursement through Medicaid. States typically have specific procedures for licensing and regulating ADHC facilities, and licensing is required for Medicaid and/or Medicare reimbursement approval — Medicare won’t cover costs associated with just day care program designations.

In many states, if a center is not certified for things like providing psych evaluations, social workers, and/or medication administration, it will simply be referred to as an adult day care center. When a facility is not licensed by the state, there is a greater chance that costs of the day care program will not be eligible for reimbursement through Medicaid.

Most states have an established licensing procedure for regulating ADHC operations. This process is required in order for the facility to be approved for Medicare and Medicaid.

Making care decisions for loved ones can be tough process to traverse. Here at Schofield, our adult day health care program provides a plethora of care options, including physical, occupational and speech therapies, nursing services, personal care, case management, and leisure activities in a supportive group environment. Don’t hesitate to call us if you’re looking for a dedicated rehab facility in Buffalo, NY or a Nursing home company in WNY that cares about your loved ones’ health and quality of life. Our experienced staff can help you navigate the process and ensure your loved one is receiving the care they need.

Getting older doesn't have to mean giving up your independence or a fulfilling quality of life. There are plenty of choices to help you live life as young as you feel.

Young at Heart is designed to help you consider all of your available options and find something that fits best for your lifestyle and personal expectations. Whether you are planning your own retirement, or looking for care for a loved one, there are plenty of resources available to help you reach a decision.